Final report preparation

A Draft Final Report should be as close to the final report as possible – Stage 1 outlines the basic structure. At this stage the Principal Investigator should have had the report proof read, edited and if applicable designed. They should have also sought feedback and if required undertaken peer review.

The Principal Investigator will send the FRDC an electronic copy of the draft final report – frdc.programs@frdc.com.au with the project number as the ‘subject’.

Stage 1 – Preparing the Final Report

The Final Report should be written in line with the FRDC Final Report Standard. The final report must include the following, minimum content. It must also include specific discussion of the extent to which each project objective has been achieved.

Cover PageInclude a cover page consistent in design with the FRDC Corporate Design Standard.FRDC Logo, photographs or diagrams may be included on the cover page as background. The FRDC logo is available in the final report design standard document for inclusion on the cover page. The title must include the word draft before the title in the Project Agreement unless otherwise approved by the FRDC.

Table of ContentsInclude a table of contents for the report including page numbers. Include lists of Tables and Figures as necessary.

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgment must be made of any financial support or other work that enhanced the findings of the project. This must include any partnership arrangements with other institutions.

Executive Summary Provide a succinct two-three page summary of the project, written in simple language. This summary will be used to convey the results of the research and development to beneficiaries and the general media. The Final Report Design Standard provides a list of the key headings. See Final Report Design Standard for additional details.

IntroductionOutline the background and need for the project.

ObjectivesList the objectives of the project, as agreed in the contract.
Please indicated and explain if any objectives changed during the project.

Method Describe the methods used, including justification.

Results Including statistical analysis.
## Please note for smaller projects the results, discussion and conclusion could be combined into one section if need.

Discussion
Discussion of results compared with the objectives.
##Please note for smaller projects the results, discussion and conclusion could be combined into one section.

ConclusionThis section should bring together all the results and objectives to give an overview of the key findings and outcomes.
##Please note for smaller projects the results, discussion and conclusion could be combined into one section.

Implications Assessment of the impact of the outcomes on end users such as management, industry, consumers, etc. in Australia (where possible provide a statement of costs and benefits).

RecommendationsFor this PROJECT, provide recommendations on the activities or other steps that may be taken to further develop, disseminate or to exploit commercially the results.

Further development Where this project DOES NOT fully solve or address all issues and more research and/or actions such as management changes are required, provide recommendations for next steps.

Extension and AdoptionOutline how the project was (and will continue to be) extended and communicated to the end user, such as managers, other researchers, industry and where applicable the broader community. If possible outline where project outputs were adopted – this may not always be possible at time of writing the final report.

Project coverageIf applicable report on any media, industry or government article on the project.

Project materials developedIf the project creates any products such as books, scientific papers, factsheets, images these should be outlined in this section outline and attach them where possible.

Stage 2 – FRDC Review

The FRDC will review the draft final report and provide written advice on any concerns about the technical content, and report format (this may include a peer review process). The author will incorporate those recommendations, or discuss and resolve any discrepancies in the draft final report with the FRDC. The FRDC may request a subsequent draft final report.

Stage 3 – Finalisation

The author will arrange an ISSN or ISBN library code for the final report, and it will be included in the publication. The final report is to be submitted within the date specified in the project schedule (usually within two months of the draft final report due date).

The financial acquittal must also be submitted at this time. It is not to be included in the final report.

Final Report Requirements – accessibility

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Australian Government agencies are required to ensure information and services are provided in a non-discriminatory accessible manner – the FRDC and as a result all content produced as part of our projects also need to meet these requirements.

While there are many aspects to this, a key focus for principal investigators is to ensure that PDF documents are accessible. To make a PDF accessible you must make sure structural elements such as headings are marked-up so that a screen reader can follow the logical order of the content. The FRDC will update the final report design standard to highlight these requirements. We are regularly working to improve what we deliver to end users and this is part of that.

Sources of Seafood Knowledge – from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation